The high oil price support funds distributed to residents of Gimhae will expire at midnight on the 31st. Any remaining balance not used by that time will automatically be forfeited and will not be refunded.
The funds were allocated to 402,645 residents, with a disbursement rate of 98.5%. As of August 24, the usage rate was reported at 98.4%. While a usage rate above 98% indicates that most funds have been utilized, it also suggests that some residents may still have unspent balances. If these individuals miss the deadline, their remaining funds will be lost.
All payments must be completed before midnight on the 31st, regardless of whether they are from the first or second disbursement. The funds can only be used by applicants at their registered addresses, meaning Gimhae residents must spend them within the city.
The places where the funds can be used vary by payment method. Mobile Gimhae Love Gift Certificates can be used at participating local businesses, while credit, debit, and prepaid cards can be used at small businesses with annual sales under 3 billion won, excluding certain restricted sectors. Gas stations are exempt from these restrictions.
Methods for checking remaining balances also differ by payment type. For credit and debit cards, users can check with their card issuer, while prepaid cards can be checked using the balance inquiry number on the back. Mobile Gimhae Love Gift Certificates can be checked through the Zero Pay payment app.
A city official stated, "With the deadline approaching, we urge residents who have not yet used their funds or have remaining balances to do so by the 31st. After the deadline, any remaining amounts will automatically expire, so please check your balances and the deadline carefully." The city will continue to provide notifications about the expiration of unused balances until the deadline.
Next month, a Chuseok discount event will allow residents to purchase local agricultural and livestock products online at discounts of up to 45%. However, the 45% discount applies only to select items when combined with specific coupons.
From September 1 to 28, Gimhae will hold a discount event for agricultural and livestock products under the joint brand "Gaya Field" on the city’s online shopping mall, Gimhae On Mall. This event is part of the "Wishes for a Bountiful Chuseok" campaign aimed at boosting consumption during the holiday season.
The base discount is 15%. Products under the Gaya Field brand, including agricultural and livestock goods, processed items, and Gimhae rice, will be available at a 15% discount. Some items will be eligible for additional discounts of up to 45% when using Gimhae On Mall's own discount coupons. Additional discounts will also apply when paying with Zero Pay Gimhae Love Gift Certificates or Gimhae On Mall gift certificates.
The city explains that this event aims to expand market access for local farmers while alleviating consumer costs. The initiative seeks to attract online shoppers to local agricultural products ahead of Chuseok.
A city official expressed hope that the discount event will help expand market access for local farmers and reduce consumer burdens, stating, "We wish everyone a bountiful Chuseok with Gimhae's agricultural products."
A new self-sufficiency lunch box project in Gimhae, which provides jobs for low-income residents while delivering meals to elderly individuals living alone, officially opened on August 27. After a month of pilot operations, the project combines job creation with care services.
The project is operated by the Gimhae Regional Self-Sufficiency Center. It employs 11 low-income individuals, including those receiving basic living assistance and those in the near-poverty category, to prepare, package, and deliver lunch boxes. The goal is to provide them with practical experience that can lead to employment or entrepreneurship. The total investment for the project, including remodeling and operational costs, is 471 million won.
The lunch boxes will be connected to a community care meal support program, providing balanced meals to 100 elderly individuals who require dietary management due to chronic illnesses. The delivery process will also include welfare checks to help reduce isolation and prevent solitary deaths among seniors.
On the opening day, Park Jong-joo, the city’s Director of Welfare, personally delivered lunch boxes to the homes of elderly recipients and checked on their health and living conditions.
The primary challenge for sustaining employment for the 11 workers and providing meals for 100 individuals is ensuring a stable market for the lunch boxes. The city plans to diversify supply channels through public institutions and various local events, with an eye toward future self-sufficiency business startups. However, analysts note that the success of the initial funding in achieving full economic independence will depend entirely on the tangible results of expanding market access.
Park Jong-joo stated, "The lunch box project is a space that helps vulnerable groups achieve self-sufficiency while realizing community care. We will expand projects that integrate self-sufficiency and community care to provide welfare services that residents can truly feel."
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.